This month's product is submitted to us by B-52 Pro Audio. A company primarily known for its array of higher end powered and passive Pro Sound Enclosures. B-52 has ventured into the guitar amplification field with the release of LG-100A 100 watt head and matching 4x12 enclosure. Musicians Hotline is proud to review the release of this new amp line fittingly entitled the "Stealth Series". Let's get to it shall we?

Out of the Box! First Impression
And what a box it is! The Stealth arrives to us in two individually packed boxes. Obviously one for the cabinet, and one for the head. We unpack the cabinet first. I can tell by attempting to lift the cabinet out of the box this is one solid cabinet. All 3/4" wood, covered with authentic black vinyl, 16 gauge metal grill for speaker protection, metal recessed handles and corners to ensure roadworthy use. The Stealth head utilizing the same material coverings, sports a gold plated control panel with standard mini style knobs. Power rocker switch is located on the front plate and standard vinyl strap handle to transport the head. The head is a bit smaller then the width of the cabinet but makes for a professional looking half stack.

Features
The LG-100 Stealth is a solid state, 100 watt, two channel head with reverb, with an additional preamp boost capability in the dirty channel. The preamp boost also sports a "contour" control which enables you to attenuate mid frequencies. Channel one is the overdriven channel and the controls are laid out as follows; Gain 1, Gain 2, Contour, Gain Switch, Bass, Middle, Treble and Level. There is a channel select switch between the two channels. The clean channel is the standard level, bass, middle and treble. The Stealth features an over all master control for reverb and level. There is a standard 1/4" input as well as a 1/4" headphone input on the front panel.

The rear panel offers some great features for an amp in this price range. Including an effects loop with adjustable level controls for send and return. A 1/4" line out, two external speaker outputs, ground lift switch, and a two input footswitch that operates a three button metal footswitch for controlling channel switching, Boost and Reverb. The cabinet is a standard 4x12 angled cab featuring four custom B-52 12" speakers yielding a 400 watt power handling rating. Enough power handling capability for a small arena! It's time to get down, plug in and turn up the juice.

Fire That Bad Boy Up
For my testing purposes, I have chosen three guitars that will provide me with a wide array of pickup selection and tonal characteristics. My choicesare three of my favorite guitars. A flametop Les Paul classic loaded with Gibson '57 classic pickups, an early 90's PRS Custom 22 all stock and an 80's Fender photo flame Telecaster all stock.

Clean Channel
I first venture into the clean channel by utilizing my trusted Telecaster which obviously I know is capable of producing a crystal clear clean tone. With the EQ of the clean channel set pretty much flat, bass on 6, mid on 4 and treble on 5 1/2, level on 4 and master on 2, the Stealth produces an inspiring clean tone. EQ is responsive and retains ample headroom to ensure the tone stays clean as the overall output increases. With small adjustments of the EQ, I am able to dial in everything from a sparkling clean tone with plenty of Tele Twang, to a moderate crunch tone by increasing the channel level to add a little of the sweet stuff. Clean tones are bright but still retain warmth in the lower mids, the low end retains firmness and the highs are sweet. I also tested with a PRS Custom 22 with split coil capabilities. In humbucker mode I am obviously able to achieve a bit more of a grit tone from shear increased output from the pickup. With bumping up the highs a bit to adjust a bit darker tone from a humbucker, the Stealth produces a sweet clean tone regardless of what guitar I use. By adding a bit of reverb to create space, clean tones are very impressive and the reverb is quality.

Kickin On The Overdrive
In my experience this is where the rubber hits the road with many solid state amplifiers. All to often, solid state amplifiers sacrifice warmth and depth in its overdriven mode. My mind is probably more open these days due to the advancements in solid state modeling technology. The B-52 Stealth is not a modeling amp by any means, but I do realize that solid state technology has come a long way in the past few years.

It's time to grab a Les Paul and find out what time it is with the B-52 Stealth. In the first gain stage with an EQ setting of the bass on 7, the mids on 4, the highs on 8 and the preamp levels on 7 1/2, the Stealth growls very well. Over all master volume on 2 and the channel level on 4, this tone creates a typical stage volume that is tolerable with plenty of sustain and retains a considerable warm overdriven tone. A 100 watts provides enough ample power to really get LOUD! So be careful or the neighbors might call the cops.

We then kick into hyper mode with gain structure 2. THE BOOST CHANNEL.This is where it gets over the top. This mode adds another preamp stage in the signal path and offers a "contour" switch for increasing or rolling off mid frequencies. New age metal players will love this channel and the contour switch for dialing in that devilish scooped mids tone with a butt load of gain. This channel can get down right nasty. But even at high gain levels, the Stealth retains adequate warmth and doesn't sound like a chain saw buzzin! Which can be the demise of many solid state amps.

By placing a Digitech RP1 multi effects unit into the effects loop and running both send and return levels on 6, effects such as chorus, flange and delay are wet enough without being lost. In the clean channel and with the processor dialed to "Fat Funk Chorus" utilizing the Telecaster, I must admit this is as impressive tone as I've heard through a solid state head.

Final Mojo
The B-52 Stealth delivers amazingly great tone and is capable of delivering a wide variety of sounds. From "Twang" to full out "Bang", I would venture to say that the Stealth is one of the best sounding solid state amps I've ever played through. However, when you consider the price vs. features ratio, the B-52 Stealth hands down a fantastic value. Rarely do you see features such as a buffered effects loop, line out, headphone jack, reverb, and a gamut of gain structures including the over the boost channel. De-tuning new age metal players will really dig this channel. At a list price of $1,299 and a street price of $699 (Half-Stack), $349 (LG-100A), $349 (LG-412V), the Stealth steals the show. Priced for budget conscience working musicians of the world! The B-52 delivers a rock solid, affordable amplifier.

Information:
ETI Sound Systems Inc.
3383 Gage Ave.
Huntington Park, CA 90255
323-277-4100
www.B-52pro.com